Perth church service honours Mary MacKillop

A mass has been held at St Mary's Cathedral in Perth to celebrate the canonisation of Mary MacKillop.

The service was led by Bishop Sproxton and was attended by hundreds of people, including the Premier Colin Barnett and the Lord Mayor of Perth Lisa Scaffidi.

Meanwhile, thousands of people have gathered in the South Australian town of Penola, where Mary MacKillop opened Australia's first Catholic school in 1866.

Pilgrims and tourists have watched the raising of the Vatican flag which was a gift from Rome.

About 10,000 people are expected to brave the chilly weather tonight in Penola to watch a live telecast of the canonisation ceremony from Rome.

And a special mass celebrating the canonisation has been held at Melbourne's St Patrick's cathedral.

The Bishop leading the mass, Peter Elliot, says today was not just for Catholics.

"This is an inclusive celebration, it's something for all Australians and it's a moment when I think that symbolically it brings us together across political and religious differences, because that's the way she was," she said.

He says she was a great woman of faith and a great Australian.

The University of Notre Dame in Fremantle is hosting a festival in Mary MacKillop's honour.